develop business plans and budgets for theatre companies and festivals

liaise with sponsors

audition and hire designers, directors, actors, performers and technical staff as required for a production or event

mentor and teach artists and performers

direct or choreograph shows.

Skills and knowledge

Artistic directors need to have:

knowledge of how to interpret and direct drama or dance

knowledge of the local and international performing arts industry

marketing and promotional skills

the ability to plan strategically

business, finance and budgeting skills.

Working conditions

Artistic directors:

often work long and irregular hours, including nights and weekends

work in theatres, studios and other venues where productions are staged

may also work from home, in offices, or recording studios

may travel to see or work on performances around New Zealand and overseas.

What's the job really like?

Colin McColl

Artistic Director

What do you do as an artistic director?

"I make all the major decisions regarding the Auckland Theatre Company. I decide the plays we do, the people we have in them and who works for the company.

"Our education programmes bring young people into the theatre, and we take workshops out to the schools. We help playwrights to develop their work."

How do you decide which plays to present?

"The artistic director has to stand for a particular style. The Auckland Theatre Company is known for promoting New Zealand work, and we also present contemporary plays from overseas, and some of the classics.

"I love it when audiences enjoy our stories from this part of the world, or our South Pacific take on some classic, such as the production of Hedda Gabler for Downstage Theatre set in 1950s New Zealand. When kids from South Auckland came to see Where We Once Belonged, they saw their stories on stage and they were blown away. It was phenomenal!"

How do you feel about the future of theatre?

"I'm really heartened because I see some very good young people coming through who are inventive and will keep the industry alive."

Physical requirements

Find out more about training

What are the chances of getting a job?

Strong competition for artistic director roles

Chances of getting a job as an artistic director are poor as the entertainment industry in New Zealand is small and considerable experience in the industry is needed for the role. Most people enter the industry through an entry-level role, such as an assistant, to gain experience and get known.

Essential to have arts experience

It is essential for artistic directors to demonstrate their experience and ability with a strong history of previous work on, for example, plays, festivals and other performing arts events. Such work provides opportunities to develop skills and gain exposure, but can be unpaid when a person is starting out.

Small range of employers for artistic directors

The main employers of artistic directors are:

film and video businesses

radio and television organisations

marketing and business management companies

arts organisations such as theatre and dance companies.

Sources

Manatū Taonga − Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Creative New Zealand, 'Working Paper: An economic profile of the arts in New Zealand', March 2015, (www.mch.govt.nz).